Warp-knitting machine



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-S heet 1.

J. BERRY.

WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 417,221. Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. BERRY. WARP KNITTING MAGHINE.

No. 417,221. Patented De0..1'7, 1889.

n. PUER5 Fhoio-Lilhagmphnr. Washington, D cv ('No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. BERRY.

WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 417,221. Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sh.eet. 4.

J. BERRY.

WARP KNITTING 111101111111.

No. 417,221. Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. r

J. BERRY.

WARP KNITTING MAGHINE.

No. 417,221. Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

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6 ShetS Sheet 6. J. BERRY. WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 417,221. Patented Dec. 1'7, 1889.

NY PETERS. Phckrlilhcgmphur, WashingtnngQQ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BERRY, OF STEVVARTON, COUNTY OF AYR, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR TO BAYLIS & CRANDALL, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

WARP-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,221, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed February 16, 1887. Serial No. 227,840. (No model.) Patented in England January 17, 1887,110. 721.

T aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES BERRY, a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Stewarton, in the county of Ayr, Scotland, have invented new and useful Improvements in arp-Knitting Machines, (for which I have obtained a patent in- Great Britain, No. 721, dated January 17, 1887 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description, which will enable others skilled in the manufacture or art to which it relates to make and use the same. I

My invention relates to knitting-machines of the kind known as warp-machines, in which a number of strands of yarn are em ployed and simultaneously operated on by the needles to form knitted fabrics; and it consists of several mechanical combinations hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed,

the whole as organized constituting an improved machine adapted for the production at a very rapid rate, and consequently at small cost, of knitted fabrics, such as Scotch bonnets or caps and fashioned hosiery or parts thereof.

As represented in back elevation in Figure 1, in transverse vertical section at Fig. 2, in front elevation at Fig. 3, in end elevation at Fig. 4, and in detail at Figs 5 to 17 of the accompanying drawings, the improved machine constituting my invention is composed of a framing A, carrying a needle bar or rail 13, suitably grooved for the reception of the knitting-needles O, which, as represented in detail at Fig. 5, are of the type known as latch-neeclles,and have formed upon them at or near their mid-length projecting shoulders c, which extend into a reed or slay R at the rear of the needle-bar. This reed is of the form shown by Figs. 6 and 7, and serves to guide the needles and prevent their turning in the grooves b of the needle-bar, wherein they are retained by a removable strip 1), extending across the face of said grooves, as shown in Fig. 8.

The needles are reciprocated vertically within the grooves 19 of the needle-bar by means of sliding bars D and D, the former of which serves to raise and the latter to depress the needles, and which are connected so that they move in unison by means of a link E, so bent as to clear the sliding bar J. (See Figs. 1 and 9.) Endwise movement is communicated to the bars D and D, as here- 5 5 inafter described, and a vertical reciprocating movement for raising and lowering the bars D D is communicated bya bar F, which receives its motion from eccentrics G on a rotating shaft H through eccentric-straps and connecting-rods 9, attached to both ends of said bar F. The sliding bars D D" lie between the grooved face of the stationary needle-bar B and the reed or slay R, and they are supported each upon carrier-bars, one d, which is connected to a part of the raisingbar D, being carried on the upper edge of the bar F, the other d being secured to straps fat the upper ends of the connectingrods g. The one carrier d, while fitted to re ciprocate "ertically, is free to slide horizontally on the bar F with the bar D, which is secured to it; but the other carrier d, being fixed to the straps f, has no horizontal movement, the bar D being fitted to slide on it. Guides f are provided to retain the bars (1 cl close to the needle-bar B.

The bars D and D, which are of the form shown in front, back, and top elevations at Figs. 10 and 11 and in front and top eleva- 8o tions at Fig. 12, are extensible and can be Varied in length, so thata greater or less number of needles may be operated, as the width of the fabric may require. This variation of the effective length of the bars D D is obtained by forming them each of two actingpieces D D and D D upon the carriers d and d, one piece being removable from and secured to the other piece by a pin or pins 61*, passing through two or more of a series of go holes in them, the parts being adjustable in relation to each other by removing the pins 61 and replacing them after the adjustment is effected. In the case of the upper bar D the adjusting-pin passes also through a slot 5 in the carrier-bar d and serves as a means of attachment, while permitting of a free sliding movement of the bar D upon its carmen The upper and lower edge-s, respectively, of I00 the raising and depressing bars D D act upon the needles only at the deeper and extensible parts, the carriers (Z d not reaching the shoulders c of the needles in their movement, and as many needles as are directly over the bar D and under the bar D are raised and depressed at each vertical reciprocation of the bars D D.

Each of the hooks or barbs c of the needles in rising and descending engages one of a series of strands of yarn Y, which pass from a bank of bobbins placed at the back of the machine to and through eyes, slots, or grooves i in a yarn-carrier I, situated over the needles, and loops are thereby formed in a wellknown manner. Before each ascent the raising and depressing bars D D are shifted laterally to an extent equal to the gage (or a multiple of the gage) of the needle, and at each reciprocation one or more needles at one end drop out of action, while a corresponding number of fresh needles are brought into actionat the opposite ends of the bars D D.

In order to permit of the endwise movement of the depressing-bar D while the end of said bar bears against the projecting shoulder of the needle adjacent to the series raised under it,a movable piece d (see Fig. 11) is fitted at each end of the barD, and is adapted to yield on said movement taking place, and upon the barD ascending and clearing said shoulder the piece d is pressed out by the spring (1 so that it passes over the shoulder and at the next downward movement acts upon it. To prevent lifting of the needles adjacent to the ends of the raising and depressing bars, wipers e, which are fixed to and travel with the bar J, which traverses the raising and depressing bars, but have no vertical movement, are provided to bear on the shoulders of the needles adjacent to the end of each bar.

The lateral movement of the raising and depressing bars D D and of the yarn-carrier I, which moves in unison with them, is eifeeted by means of the bar J, connected by links j to the carrier-bar (Z and operated by pattern mechanism adapted to impart the requisite toand-fro movement, which maybe regular or irregular and variable, according as the same pattern or varying patterns of fabrics is or are to be produced.

The pattern mechanism in the present instance consists of a sliding plate K, (see Figs. 1, 3, and 13 to 17,) having formed in it a series of steps or notches 7c of a depth equal to the gage of the needles, (or a multiple of such gage.) Plate K is supported and guided by means of straps X, which pass around parallel track-bars X said bars being supported on the frame of the machine from brackets K This plate K has an intermittent movement to the extent of one step or notch at a time imparted to it by means of a drivingpiece L, to which reciprocating motion is given by means of a cam or eccentric M on a spindle m, driven by gearing h from the eccentric-shaft H, the cam M being in contact with rollers m on a slotted bar L, which embraces the spindle m and is guided by a bracket m on the machine-frame, the driving-piece L being jointed to said bar. 011 each of itslimbs the driving-piece L has two beveled prongs Z, those on one limb being inclined upwardly and those 011 the other downwardly. The prongs on each limb are inclined to opposite sides, so that the incline of the prongs of each limb nearest the machine will be presented in one direction and those remote will be presented in another direction. According as the driving-piece is tilted on its joint Z toward the right or toward the left, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, and 15, it moves the plate K toward the rear or toward the front of the machine, this movementbeingcommunicated by the action of the beveled prongs Z upon the pins k, which are spaced at distances apart corresponding to the length of the notches or steps 70. The beveled prongs on the same sides of the limbs of the driving-piece L will intermittingly move the plate K, first one acting as the piece L moves up and the other as it moves down, or vice versa, and the other prongs, when the pieceL is tilted, acting similarl".

The tilting of the driving-piece L from side to side to reverse the direction of movement of the plate K is eifected automatically by bell-cranks Z suitably journaled, and connecting-rods Z pivoted at each side of the driving-piece L and to the bell-cranks. The bell-cranks are tilted at the proper time by the upward movement of blocks Z that are carried loosely by rods or Wires Z at diagonally-opposite sides of the plate K, and in its movement to the end of its travel are brought over vertieally-reciprocating spears Zi'operated through levers Z by cams or eccentrics 1", said levers having rollers, as shown in Fig. 13, which rest upon the periphery of cams or eccentrics Z 'The outer ends of the levers Z are pivoted to spears Z and the other ends to suitable supports on the machine-frame. The block l on one side of the plate is used to determine the extent of travel of the plate K in one direction, and that on the opposite side serves to limit the travel in the opposite direction.

Each movement or step of the plate K is equal to the width of a loop (or two or more loops) in either direction, and it communicates through the roller j on the vertical bracket J, fixed on the end of the bar J, an endwise movement to the like extent (and to the right or left, according to the direction of movement of the plate K) to the carrier-bar d and the sliding bars D D through the link j and to the yarn-carrier I, which latter in the present instance is connected by links 2" and guide-bar 1 to bracket J on the bar J and is traversed to the same extent as the bars D D. By suitably adjust: ing the blocks Z and the rods Z (that carry them) of the pattern mechanism to regulate the toandfro movement of the patterrrplate K, the sliding bars D D, and yarn-carrier I the requisite fashioning of the fabric being knitted is obtained.

The yarn-carrier 1', in which the grooves or eyes for the yarn or thread are spaced to correspond to the spacing of the needles, has a back-and-forward movement imparted to it in order to bring the strands of yarn across the path of movement of the needles by means of two levers N, at the upper end of which it is carried, the said levers being centered on a shaft N and acted on at their lower ends by cams a 011 the shaft H. A hooked comb 0, provided with a series of horizontally-fitted hooks, is carried at the upper ends of two lovers P, also centered on the shaft N and operated by cams p on the shaft H, the movement of the hooked comb being so timed that the hooks upon it pass through between the needles, and on returning draw off the loops as they are formed.

The yarn Yin passing from the bank of bobbins to the yarn-carrier I is led over a revoluble roller Q, fitted in a trough Q, containing an emulsion serving to oil and damp the yarn as it passes over the roller. The yarn thence passes through a reed or slay S and through weighted guide-eyes or tumblers T tothe yarn-carrier.

By the provision of the rotating roller Q and trough Q, containing the oiling and damping emulsion, the use of apparatus for oiling and damping the yarn before it is wound upon the bobbins is dispensed with.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Rotary motion being imparted to the main working-shaft H by means of gearing U from a toothed wheel U upon a shaft V, provided with belt-pulleys V, the eccentrics G communicate a vertical reciprocating movement to the bar F and sliding bars D D, whereby the needles C are alternately raised and depressed. During the upward travel of the needles the yarn-carrier I is moved forward by the action of the cams n, so that the needles engage the strands of yarn, and the yarncarrier and the sliding bars D D are moved endwise at the termination of the downward movement by the bar J, which is acted on by the plate K of the pattern mechanism, so that one needle drops out of action at one end and a fresh needle is brought into action at the opposite end, when, after the bar D has depressed the needles, the next upward move ment takes place. On the downward movement of the needles the loops formed on the needles, and which are released by the closing of the latches, are drawn off by thehooked comb. Apair of rollers maybe fitted in front of the machine to draw off the fabric as it is knitted. hen the yarn-carrier moves longitudinally with the raising-bar, as many strands may need to be employed as there are needles raised at each action, and as the needles toward the center of the machine are thus oftener raised than those toward the ends a greater number of courses would be knitted off at or near the central part of the length of the needle-bar than at or near the ends,which are only reached once at everyfull to-and-fro movement of the raising-bar, and there is produced a series of pieces which, when seamed longitudinally, form balloons or cylinders with conical ends, which may be cut transversely or otherwise to produce from each two complete caps. By suitably setting the pattern mechanism, however, to impart a toand-fro movement of the yarn-carrier I to the extent only of the breadth of one needle and leaving the raising and depressing bars unacted on by the pattern mechanism a c-ontinuous length or web of plain knitted work will be produced.

Any fashioned work intermediate between the balloons and plain webs maybe obtained by varying the action of the pattern mechanism, variety in ornament and design of the work being also attainable by the use of variously-colored strands of yarn.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a warp-knitting machine, of the framing having a main shaft, a needle-bar, needles, raising and depressing bars having connection with each other, a bar F, eccentrics G, straps or rods g, whereby said bar F is operated through the main shaft, bar J, having connection with the raising and depressing bars, a yarn-carrier connected with the bar J, swinging mechanism for the yarncarrier, and pattern mechanism whereby endwise movement is communicated to the yarncarrier and the raising and depressing bars through bar J, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a warp-knittin g machine, of the framing having a main shaft, a needle-bar B, needles, raising and depressing bars D D, having connection with each other, a bar F, mechanism for operating the latter from the main shaft, bar J, having connection with the bars D D, yarn-carrier I, connected. with the bar J, swinging mechanism for the yarn-carrier, and pattern mechanism whereby endwise movement is communicated to carrier I and bars D D through bar J, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,in a warp-knitting machine, of a framing having a main shaft, a needle-bar B, needles, raising and depressing bars D D, a bar F, means connected with the main shaft and bar F for imparting vertical movement to the latter and bars D D, bar J, having connection with the bars D D, yarncarrier I, connected with the bar J, swinging mechanism for the yarn-carrier, a patternplate K, and means for imparting movement to the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

at. In a warp-knitting machine, the combination of a needle-bar B, needles, bars D D, having vertical movement, means for accomplishing said movement, laterally-movable IOK yarn-carrier I, swinging mechanism for the latter, and pattern mechanism for imparting endwise movement to bars D D and yarncarrier I, substantially as set forth.

5. In a Warp-knitting machine, the combination of a needle-bar B, needles, bars D D, means forimpartin g vertical movement thereto, link j, yarn-carrier I, swinging mechanism for the latter, bar J, a link-connection between the carrier I and bar J, a pattern-plate K, means carried by said bar J upon which the latter is adapted to act and operate bars D D and yarn-carrier I through bar J, and means for imparting movement to said plate, substantially as set forth.

6. In a Warp-knitting machine, the combination of a compound verticall'yrreei procati n g raising and depressing bar consisting of parts D D d d and connectingstrap E, means for imparting vertical movement to said bar, pattern mechanism, and mechanism intermediate of the pattern mechanism and said compound bar whereby lateral movement is imparted thereto, substantially as set forth.

7. In a Warp-knitting machine, the combination of a compound vertically-reciprocating raising and depressing bar consisting of the parts D D cl d, a strap connecting the parts of said bar, means for imparting vertical movement to said bar, a pattern-plate K, having means of connection with said bar, and means for imparting englwise movement to plate K, substantially as set forth.

8. In a warp-knitting machine, an extensible depressing-bar consisting of the parts D D 61, means for adjustably connecting them,-

the parts D D having each a yielding end piece (1 and a spring (1 substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 1

9. In a Warp-knitting machine, a pattern mechanism consisting of the plate K, having a stepped slot k, pins 70, the driving-piece L L, the shaft m, the rotating cam M, eccen- 10. In a knitting-machine, the combination,

with a series of needles, a bar or bars for moving the same to knit, and the yarn-carrier having a series of yarn-guides for supplying yarn to the needles, of means for moving said bar or bars and yarn-carrier endwise along the series of needles, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In aknitting-machine, the combination, with a series of movable needles, 2. bar or bars for moving the same to knit, said bar or bars being adjustable in length to vary the number of needles brought into action, and a yarncarrier having a series of yarn-guides for supplying yarns to the needles, of means for moving said bar or bars endwise along the series of needles, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7

12. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with a series of movable needles, a bar or bars for moving the same to knit, and a yarn-carrier having a series of yarn-guid es for supplying yarns to the. needles, of a frame With which the yarn-carrier and needle-actuating bar or bars are connected to move endwise, and means for moving said frame, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day of November, 1886.

JAMES BERRY. [n s] Witnesses:

GEo. M. CRUIKSHANKL Fel. Inst. Patent Agts, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,

Fel. Inst. Patent Agents, Both of 62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow. 

